true hybrid - mark andy

TRUE HYBRID

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THE FUTURE OF NARROW-WEB LABEL PRODUCTION

THE DEMAND FOR DIGITAL

TRUE HYBRID: The Future of Narrow-Web Label Production 2

Digital has taken over narrow-web label and packaging production. As

an industry previously dominated by offset and flexo, we’re all

witnessing the incorporation of new digital production methods.

According to a study by LPC Inc, 50 percent of label presses sold in

2016 were digital devices and it is predicted that by 2020, three out of

every four presses sold will also be digital. A process complimentary

to flexo, digital allows mass customization through VDP and efficiency

through versioned graphics.

One of the main drivers of digital growth is new requirements by

converters’ customers—the brand owners. As shelves become more

crowded, more hard work is being done to conceptualize value-add

labels and packaging. Standing out is critical if a brand wants to

maintain market share. With an average of 39,500 SKUs in the typical

North American grocery store, SKU proliferation is rampant.

This equates to a 400 percent increase in the number of goods available for purchase in the last 30 years.

That also results in more opportunity for a label converter to win new

business and support a new pressroom asset.

400%

BREAKING DOWN THE BUZZWORD


Shelf appeal requirements mandate differentiation. That’s where

hybrid comes into play versus conventional digital process.

Digital hybrid is a printing method that leverages the advantages of digital printing with the proven capabilities of flexo in a single piece of equipment.

A hybrid production unit combines traditional flexo

embellishment, inline converting and digital printing

into a single solution. In the past, all of these necessary

label production steps would need to be done using

several processes and pieces of equipment. Offering

a profitable solution for label converters, hybrid

technologies maximize the long-lasting success achieved

with flexographic capabilities while providing printers

with the opportunity to stay current with market trends

and meet the needs of customers.

+ =FLEXOPLATFORM

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY & PROFITABILITY

DIGITALPRINT

THE MANY FACES OF HYBRID PRINTING


In recent years, many OEMs have brought hybrid digital solutions

to market. That said, hybrid comes in many forms: semi-, modular and true. Semi-hybrid devices use nearline finishing methods and

consist of multi-company integrations. For these types of presses,

two or more companies buddy-up to support digital printing and

finishing components of the label production process.

Modular hybrid solutions are digital retrofits for flexographic

equipment. Offered through programs like Mark Andy’s Digital

Plus Program, solutions of this nature aim to allow converters to

enhance existing assets with the benefit of digital without having

to invest in a new, standalone piece of equipment. This type of

solution is well-suited for the converter with a specific application

need, such as VDP or marking. Additionally, modular hybrid solutions

are great for companies facing capital constraints or those wishing

to make better use of an underutilized legacy press.

The last and arguably most efficient classification of hybrid is true.

True hybrid provides single-source production platforms with web

handling, digital print, converting and finishing in one pass. As of

early 2018, there were more than 90 pieces of Mark Andy true hybrid

equipment in production, ranging from dry-toner units to high-output

UV inkjet devices.

Data shows true hybrid brings two shifts of flexo work

down to one and reduces ink and substrate costs by

up to 20 percent.

MODULARA retrofit solution that adds digital

capability to flexo machines

SEMIA multi-company integration for

digital printing and flexo converting

TRUEA single source integration for digital and flexographic

press elements

THE TRUE HYBRID ADVANTAGE


Many converters are making the shift to true hybrid due to the clear

advantages of the process. Inline converting is the standout

differentiator. Blank rolls of material put on the press are transformed

into expertly crafted labels and packaging ready to be sent to customers,

all in a single pass of production. Substantial time and waste savings

are achieved; Mark Andy digital hybrid customers are reporting

50 percent and 20 percent savings, respectively.

True hybrid also reigns king when evaluating the ability to differentiate

through decoration. This is especially important in craft industries, where

highly embellished output is the standard. True hybrid presses enable

the same degree of customization flexo provides. A printer can utilize

cold foil, varnishes, laminates, digital special effects and intricate die cuts in a single pass. With semi-hybrid solutions, this

is only achievable with ancillary equipment or secondary decoration

processes, leading to more downtime.

Another clear advantage of true hybrid solutions is the single source

nature of the product. Adopters of true hybrid are clear who to reach

out to with any questions, as opposed to with semi- or modular hybrid

solutions. If there are questions about new application development

or substrate compatibility, the OEM is always available and

knowledgeable. One company stands behind your business,

your equipment and your success.

The same concept rings true when addressing upgradability of true

hybrid. Unlike semi- or modular solutions, true hybrid enables a clear

upgrade path with a longstanding partner.

THE FUTURE OF NARROW-WEB IS HERE


There is no denying flexography has a stable place in package

printing, but the future of flexo isn’t the humble tape press from

our industry’s infancy; rather, the intuitive digital hybrids engineered

in the last few years. Hybrid comes in many shapes and sizes, and

every converter’s need is different. Luckily, Mark Andy’s hybrid

portfolio covers all the bases. These range from entry-level standalones

like Digital One to production level digital assets like the Digital Series

press line.

With inline converting and decoration, a clear upgrade path

and rock-solid support, true hybrid provides a future-proof platform

with the flexibility to change as individual business needs and the

market require.

www.digital.markandy.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TRUE HYBRID SOLUTIONS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

Mark Andy Inc. helps converters realize their potential by creating and delivering

innovative solutions that increase productivity and deliver profitability. As the world’s

number one manufacturer of narrow and mid-web printing and finishing equipment,

we supply leading global brands, including Mark Andy printing presses and Rotoflex

finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables

and pressroom supplies. All products are supported by the largest customer support

team in the industry, dedicated to supporting partners throughout the lifecycle of their

equipment and offering a variety of services including spare parts, technical service,

retrofits and rebuilds, PM programs and superior training through Mark Andy University.

true hybrid - mark andy

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